Skulld is already back.
Barely two years after their debut album, Pamela (vocals), Monti (guitar), Rappo (guitar), Moqi (guitar), Ciufs (bass), and Teo (drums) announce their sophomore effort, Abyss Call to Abyss, via Time to Kill Records.
The band gets straight to the point with Healing The Wound and its dissonant leads, which perfectly complement the raw rhythm section, quickly joined by Pamela‘s vindictive screams, sometimes slightly in the background. The three guitars create chaos in which the hardcore/crust touches stand out beautifully, as they do on The Blink, which follows suit and immediately delivers similar patterns that are just as aggressive in every way. There is a moment of hesitation before the catchy break that makes you want to fight against everything that moves, then you breathe again for a moment before Accabadora takes off at full speed, offering rather cold and almost melancholic tones under the guise of unapologetic violence. The harmonics are also more elaborate, imposing majestic passages that contrast with the rage found on the virulent Wear The Night As A Velvet Cloak, which strings together moments of intense blasting at full speed and beastly roars, and even treats us to a tortured solo. We return to oppressive slowness with Le Diable And The Snake, which offers a more measured tone, placing solid riffs between two more unpredictable parts where the crust roots are perfectly exploited, but the track is long and the changes numerous, such as the very gradual slowdown at the end that finally leads us to Mother Death. The jerky rhythm resurfaces and carries us away in its rocky groove that hammers relentlessly, then the aptly named Drops Of Sorrow overwhelms us with its heavy and painful melancholy coupled with a rhythm that is as heavy as can be, but which knows how to accelerate to reinforce its violence. The finale is a little more stirring, but it is ultimately Sacred Fires that takes over, hypnotizing us before bursting into flames without warning, ensuring a final burst of abrasive rage to close the album.
Everything about Skulld calls for violence, and although the mix sometimes seems a little chaotic, it remains controlled to ensure maximum power. Abyss Call to Abyss is belligerent and will undoubtedly appeal to pit fans.
85/100
